Pic Mohd Fuad Hamid
SINTOK: It is not sufficient for a student leader to merely have academic and practical knowledge; they must also have good manners.
For Tan Sri Dr. Mohd Shukor Mahfar, Chairman of the University Board of Directors, to be a leader, one must exhibit good manners and morals; similarly, for a member of the Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Student Representative Council (SRC) to be a leader, one must also exhibit proper behavior and high moral standards.
According to him, it does not matter how extensive one’s knowledge is; in order to be an effective leader, one must demonstrate appropriate manners at all times.
“The elected UUMSRC must be fully committed to carrying out their duties aside from having the requisite leadership skills and knowledge to be effective leaders.
“You must live up to both your responsibilities and the trust placed in you. However, not all problems can be solved in a single night, and finding a solution to some of them might require some time. In a similar vein, the administration of the university may not be able to completely implement everything depending on the circumstances in a number of different aspects,” he said.
Mohd Shukor made these remarks yesterday afternoon at the Senate Room, during the Presentation of Letters of Appointment to Members of the UUM Student Representative Council 2022/2023 Session.
In addition, he proposed that the SRC representative be allowed to participate in the University Board of Directors meeting in order to report every issue that arises as a means of bringing the SRC closer to the management of the university.
He expressed hope that members of the UUMSRC would be able to fulfil their responsibilities in an honest and reliable manner, and that the management would provide unwavering assistance.
During the ceremony, Mohd Shukor presented all 44 members of the UUMSRC with their appointment certificates. The handing over of notes ceremony also took place between the former President of UUMSRC, Mr. Muhammad A’linur Ahlam Abu Bakar and the newly elected President of the UUMSRC 2022/2023 Session, Mr. Muhammad Izuan Faiz Abdul Rahman.
Meanwhile, Prof. Dr Shahimi Mohtar, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) who is performing the duties of Vice-Chancellor, stated that more than 13,000 students fulfilled their responsibilities as voters, resulting in a turnout of 66.63 percent.
According to him, the organised and systematic teamwork yielded encouraging results, and in addition to being appreciative due to their maturity, all candidates practise campus politics competently and without problems.
“I hope that this success is not just a pursuit of popularity but rather a trust that comes with a great responsibility. Do the job in with the utmost dedication and commitment.
“As leaders, it is hoped that your actions will not have a negative impact on the university. Act rationally and equitably for students and UUM. Help this university achieve a higher status not only in the country, but also internationally, as students and the university are intertwined,” he said.
Mr. Muhammad Izuan Faiz, the President of UUMSRC, stated that the presentation of the appointment letter signifies the commencement of their duties and responsibilities as a liaison between the students and management of UUM.
He added that it is a weighty responsibility to ensure that student welfare issues are effectively communicated to university administration.
Mr. Izuan Faiz emphasised once more that the responsibility entrusted to them is a trust rather than a burden; consequently, they will keep working hard to fulfil the responsibilities entrusted to them and maintain the high level of leadership they have demonstrated in the past.
“Therefore, the UUMSRC requires strong support from all parties in order to carry out the task in an effort to locate a common ground regarding the welfare of students and, at the same time, assist UUM ascend to a higher level.
“All aspirations will be realised with strong commitment, with the support and guidance of those with experience, which is essential,” he said.
In the election that took place on 17 January, 44 candidates were successful in winning their respective seats, including 10 general candidates and 34 candidates from the respective schools.
Present at the event were Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Prof. Dr Ahmad Martadha Mohamed; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Dr Rusayani Ismail; UUM CAS Assistant Vice-Chancellor, Assoc. Prof. Dr Mazni Omar; and the Dean of the Islamic Business School, who is performing the duties of UUM COB Assistant Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr Rosylin Mohd Yusof and senior university officials. – Mahaliza Mahadhir
